Method and apparatus for producing talking moving pictures



Nov. 17, 1931.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TALKING MOVING PICTURES E. l. SPONABLE Filed Nov. 1, 1928 IIIHHHIII gw/c/vrgx 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 17, 1931. E. l. SPONABLE 1,332,821

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TALKING MOVING PICTURES Filed Nov. 1, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I!!! II II! llIl/IIIII'IIIII 7'1!!!llfill!!!IIIllfll'flllIlllIf/lI/IIIIII/I/lll/llllllllllllI/llllfflIffI IllllI/llf/ illi iillna 1 H H HJH I 1hr ass NOV. 17, 1931. SPONABLE I 1,832,821

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TALKING MOVING PICTURES Fil N0V- l, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6? 1 7 "I I I J /3\6- A j 4 x /5 3 ,45 38 1 3/ q 29 30 17 T X 7 I 25 23 1 5 .6 V 2) :w 2o 17 /7 /8 H @21 2 BA 1 TOR EYS.

Nov. 17, 1931. E. I. SPONABLE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TALKING MOVING PICTURES Filed Nov. 1, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1710 5 NTOR WIT Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARL I. SPONABLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 FOX CASE CORPORATION, 01 r i NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TALKING MOVING PICTURES Application filed November 1, 1928. Serial No, 316,542.

This invention relates to a new and useful method and apparatus for the production of moving pictures and the simultaneous synchronized reproduction of a record corresponding to sound'waves, the whole apparatus being so constructed and mounted as to be self-contained and portable as a unit permitting ready transportation from place to place.

The main object of the invention is to provide a portable talking moving-picture apparatus whereby the production of the moving pictures is simultaneous with the reproduction of sound waves from a photographic record of light waves corresponding to sound waves, and in which the reproduced sound will actually issue from the picture.

Another object of the invention comprises a device or vehicle adapted to have mounted thereon a moving picture projecting machine, a screen upon which the moving picture is projected, an apparatus for the reproduction of sound waves from a photographic record of light waves corresponding to sound waves, and a sound translating device in the form of aloud speaker, together with batteries and all necessary equipment for the successful reproducing of talking moving pictures, all of which are capable of being transported or moved from one locality to another for the purpose of producing talking moving pictures on the streets of cities or towns or in any other desired and convenient locality.

A further object is to so construct and position the screen upon which the moving picture is projected together with the loud speakor cooperating therewith above the vehicle upon which they are mounted so that the audience standing upon the ground about the vehicle may plainly see the pictures and hear the sounds, and that an operator may be able to remove said screen and loud speaker from the operating exposed position and place them within the body of the vehicle where they may be protected from the elements when not in use for the giving of talking moving pictures or during transportation.

Other objects and advantages relating to the details of. the structure and the form and relation of the parts thereof will more fully Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle which has been used in connection with the reproduction of talking moving pictures and having a 'portion of the side broken away to show a portion of a moving picture projector, while a moving picture screen together with a loud speaker is shown in operative position.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken in the plane of the line 2'2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane of line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken in the plane of the line 4-4, Figure 2, showing the means for supporting the loudspeaker and the moving picture screen.

Figure 5 is a horizontal detail section taken in the plane of the line 55, Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of this invention.

In order to carry out the object of this in= vention I prefer to use an automobile truck 1 having a body -2 mounted on the chassis thereof. The rear end of the body -2 may be provided with one or more vertical doors -3-- hinged at their side edges at -4l to the adjacent side walls -5 of the body 2 and extend vertically from the floor -6 of the body -2 upwardly a portion of the distance of the rear open end of said body while the remainder of the open portion of the rear end may be closed by a vertical door --7 which extends across the entire width of the rearopening'and may as shown be hinged at the upper edge thereof at 8 to the lower rear edge of the upper cross piece -9 of the body 2 thereby permitting the door 7- to be raised to a.

substantiallyvertical position where it may be supported by, inthis instance, adjustable brace rods --l0 having one end secured to the door 7 while the other end may be held in any suitable manner as by placing it in a screw eye -1l secured to the body sidewalls 5- thus the door -7- may be used as a platform for an operator to stand upon in making any adjustments to the loud speaker 13- or the screen .14.

The sound translatingdevice may consist of, as shown, a loud speaker -13 of any suitable type such as a horn as shown which may have suitable brackets 15 secured at either side and near the forward open end thereof by screws 16.

The brackets 15 include lateral arms 17 which have their outer ends journaled on a horizontal shaft -l8-- rotatably mounted in brackets -19- secured to the inner face of the cross piece 9 and brackets 20 secured to the cross piece 9 and side walls of the body -2 as more'clearly shown in Fig. 5;

The brackets thereby form a supporting means for the loud speaker 13 while said loud speaker may be raised and lowered to and from its operative position above the truck body 2 by means of arms --21 having one end thereof pivotallv connected to brackets 22-"secured to the side walls of the loud speaker -13- and the other end of the arms -21 are mounted on and secured to the hor zontal rock shaft 1 8- and actuated thereby.

The outer ends of the horizontal rock shaft --18- terminate near the inner face of the side walls 5 and are provided with worm ears -23- secured there o which mesh with cooperating worms 24 secured to the upper ends of vertical shafts 25-- wh ch are journaled near their u per ends in brackets -26 secured to the brackets and extend downward throuqh suitable holes in the bottom 6 of the body -2- and through a bracket 27 secured to the underside of the truck body 2 near the rear end thereof. The lower end of the vertical shafts are provided with bevel gears 28- securedthereto and mesh with suitable nears 29 secured to a horizontal shaft 30 journaled in downwardly extending flanges 31- integral with or secur d to the bracket 27-. v

The opposite endsof the horizontal shaft 30 extend or proiect a short distan e outside of or beyond the irrespective flanges 31 and may be provided with squared portions adapted to rece ve a. wrench or crank arm, not shown. for the purpose of enabling an operator to rotate said shaft 30-- and the gears -29 which in turn transmits motion to the gears 28 and their respective vertical shaft-s -25- and the worms 24, worm gears -23 and the rock shaft 1 8-. This enables the operator to move the loud speaker from the operative position above the truck body -2.

ative position above the vehicle body as shown in full lines, Figure 2.

The moving picture screen 14.-- may be mounted upon a rectangular frame 34. having a plurality of, in this instance two, horizontal cross members 35, the frame "4- being supported when in its operative position immediately in front of the loud speaker -13- by, in this instance two, supporting arms or brackets -36 clamped to the lower portion of the frame ?A near the outer ends thereof by bolts 37 and thumb nuts 38 while the lower end of the brackets are pivotally connected to the loud speaker lifting arms --21 by pivot bolts -39. It will be noted that the front edge of the horn or loud speaker inclinesrearwardly as it extends downwardly so that the picture may be projected upon the screen which. covers the opening in a substantially normal position and the picture will be more readily and accurately visible to a person on the ground in front or at the sides of the truck. The screen frame 34 inclined to conform to the inclination of the front edge of the loud speaker may be held in its cooperative position with a suitable moving picture projector 40- in any convenient way as by ropes or cables 41 socured to the upper cross member 35 of the screen -34= and passing over pulleys -42 secured to the upper portion of the loud speaker 13 extend downwardly and fastened in any suitable manner to the inner side of the body '2 as by winding or tying to cleats 43 as indicated in F igure 2. hen it is desired to remove the screen 14L for transportation or any other reason it is only necessary to unfasten the cables -41 from the cleats 43 and lower the frame 34tby permitting it to swing downwardly about the pivots 39 until the frame -34 rests upon the top of the body -2 as indicated by the dotted lines, Figure 2, where the cables 4;l may be withdrawn from their respective pulley 42 and the thumb nuts 38 removed from their bolts 37 after which the screen frame -3i may be removed and placed within the truck body -2 for pro-' frame in any suitable manner and must. in this instance, consist of a material which is substantially impervious to llQ'llt rays and must have a coefficient of reflection sufficient to enable a picture to.bc well re produced thereon and in addition, must have openings or pores of sufficient number and size to permit the passage of sound waves in substantially undampened condition.

These pores or openings may be disposed in the material which has been selected for the screen at varying inclinations to the surface thereof, or other conditions of structure may assist, not herein possible'to deupon the floor thereofi near the forward end and is capable of being tilted at such an angle as to project the light rays constituting the picture upon the screen 14 through an opening 45 provided in the roof of the body 2 in the rear portion thereof. The opening --45 may be covered during transportation or when it is otherwise desired to do so in any suitable manner as by a canvas 46 which may be provided with eyelets 47 adapted to fit over buttons 48 positioned along the upper outer edge of the sides 5. In the diagrammatic view, Figure 6, is illustrated a system of sound reproduction applicable to this invention in which the moving picture projector 'f0 is provided with a wall 50- having a narrow elongated slot 51 therein, preferably corresponding substantially in area to the slot through which the sound picture was produced. The film is adapted to move past the slot 5l preferably in close relation with the slot, and light rays from a suitable source indicated at 52-, are projected through the slot upon'the film, and pass through the sound record upon a light reactive resistance or a photo-electric cell illustrated at -53.

This photo-electric cell is connected in a circuit including any number of stages of amplification, a single stage being illustrated, although preferably a number of stages are used. This stage of amplification includes an electro-ionic device of the three-electrode type, and including a filament 55, grid 56 and plate 57. A suitable means is provided for heating the filament as, for instance, a. circuit including battery 58-. The grid 56- and filament 55 are connected in circuit with the photo-electric cell -53, such circuit including a source of potential. as battery 59-, preferably a potentiometer 60- and a resistance 61 are connected in shunt with aid circuit across the filament and the grid, whereby the desired potential may be maintained upon the grid for producing the most effective result.

The filament 55 and plate 57 are connected in circuit with a suitable source of potential as a battery 62 and in this case with the primary 63 of a transformer, the secondary 64 of which is connected in circuit with a sound translating device 13 in the form of a loud speaker disposed directly behind the screen -l4,that

is, upon the opposite side of the screen from the projector 40 altho two or more translating devices 13 maybe used and their form may be widely varied.

Instead of the secondary 64 of the transformer, any suitable number of stages of amplifications may be inserted at this point. The screen 14, as heretofore described, is of special construction adapted to reflect substantially all light rays and permit substantially undampened passage of sound waves in order to carry out a method by which simultaneously with theproduction of the moving picture the sound waves corresponding to the picture are actually projected through the screen and, therefore, the picture whereby a more natural and effective result is obtained, but obviously other arrangements may be made for the use of any known screen by proper positioning of the parts upon the truck. The amplifying apparatus including batteries, etc. is all positioned within the vehicle body and the apparatus is a' self-contained portable unit.

talking moving picture producing apparatus.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction shown as various changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a portable chassis, a substantially enclosed body mounted thereon and having an opening through its top'wall, a moving picture projector adapted to project light rays through'said opening in said top wall, means for translating a film record of light waves corresponding to sound waves into electrical variations, a loudspeaker actuated by said electrical variations to reproduce the original sound waves, a pair of arms connected to the loud speaker, a pivot on the body for said arms. and means for moving said loud speaker about said pivot into and out of the vehicle body, and a screen in the path of the projected light rays.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

a portable chassis, a substantially enclosed body mount-ed thereon and having an opening through its top wall. a moving picture projector adapted to project light rays through said opening in said top wall. means for translating a film record of light waves corresponding to sound waves into electrical variations, a loud speaker actuated by said electrical variations to reproduce the original sound waves, a pair of arms connected to the loud speaker, a pivot on the body for said arms and means for moving said loud speaker about said pivot into and out of the vehicle body, and a screen covering the open end of the loud speaker and positioned in the path of the PI'OJBCtGd light rays.

v 3. In an apparatus of the class described,

aportable chassis, a substantially enclosed body mounted thereon and having an opening through its top wall, a moving picture projector adapted to project light rays through said opening in said top wall, means for translating a film record of light waves 19 corresponding to sound waves into electrical variations, a loud speaker actuated by said electrical variations to reproduce the original sound waves, a pair of arms connected to the loud speaker, a pivot on the body for said arms, and means for moving said loud speaker about said pivot into and out of the vehicle body, a screen, and means for pivotally mounting, the screen in the path of the projected light rays.

20 4. In an apparatus of the class described, a portable chassis, a substantially enclosed body mounted thereon and having an opening through its top wall, a moving picture projector adapted to project light rays through said opening in said top wall, means for translating a film record of light waves corresponding to sound waves into electrical variations, a loud speaker actuated by said electrical variations to reproduce the original sound waves,

$0 a'pair of arms connected to the loud speaker, a pivot on the body for said arms, means for moving said loud speaker about said pivot into and out of the vehicle body, a screen, means for ivotally mounting the screen in the path 0? the projected light rays, and additional means for maintaining the screen in position in front of the open end of the loud speaker.

5. In an apparatus of the class described,

40 a portable chassis, a substantially enclosed body mounted thereon and having an opening through its topwall,a moving picture projector adapted to project light rays through said opening in said top wall, means for translating a film record of light waves corresponding to sound waves into electrical variations, a loud speaker actuated by said electrical variations to reproduce the orig inal soundwaves, a pivotal support for securing said speaker to said body, and means for moving said loud speaker about said pivot into and out of the vehicle body, and a screen in'the path of the projected light rays.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of October 1928.

EARL I. sPoNABLE. 

